Couch to 5k 2011: Part 5 - Polished and Ready to Run

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Yet more space for us to talk about our progress on the Couch to 5K programme, the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, the gadgets we use -and our nail varnish.

New runners are warmly welcomed - come and give it a whirl, you know you want to! Although this thread has been going for a year now some of us are re-doing the Couch to 5K, some of us are relatively new, some are doing half marathons already, we are a good mix and would love to hear from anyone who would like to run with us. Just jump in whatever stage you are at.

New shoes. I will try them out tomorrow. The shop kindly said they would give the old ones to charity so I said my goodbyes there and then

Neil - I hope you feel better soon.

Those look good, Shredded; I like the colours too. Sympathies on your fall; I didn't dare look back to see whether anyone had noticed when I fell, but they were all facing in the right (wrong for me!) direction so it's quite likely.

Sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well, Neil; hope you're back on track soon.

Great news on the dress, jelli; I'm sure you felt justifiably smug.

3 miles in 25 minutes and with a hangover, IFAS? I think breaking the 25 minute barrier will be my new goal after I've completed C25k. I really want to break my record in this year's town race as well, but I'm hoping it won't be too difficult (I hadn't finished C25k last summer, and managed 3.3k in 22 minutes).

Sympathies Neil, I had a d&v bug that seemed to hang around and came back in bouts. V annoying.

I had another run last night. It went very well, probably because ds3 annoyed the crap out of me at bedtime because he was arsing around in his cot, so I then had lots of frustration to take out on the treadmill

Nice trainers shredded

Oh, I also meant to say that while I have no idea about weight loss (in denial), my back fat has reduced, my arse cheeks no longer touch the backs of my knees and my saddlebags have reduced significantly.

I paint such a beautiful picture of myself don't I?

Hi all

Thanks for the replies but I doubt it's muscle more likely my addiction to Shiraz and grilled halloumi and mushrooms although some of my clothes do feel better in my mind

Jelli well done on the dress size, I'm currently a 12 and would love to be a 10.

Shredded shoes are great and hope you're ok after your tumble

Neils hope you feel better soon, those bugs can be nasty.

Linzer right now I can only dream of running for 25 mins straight so well done

Iliketomoveit at least you've lost some! Keep it up!!

Well after being so disheartened the other day I knocked off the alarm this morning and then promptly climbed back into bed! I then decided to look at the clock and if it was after 6.30 I would go tomorrow, if it was before then I'd go today. Well clock said 6.29 so off I went!!

Repeating w4 and had to have small 10 sec break during first 3 min run and was feeling down but... others were great. I was getting to the end and wondering when it would finish rather than praying for it to end and possibly could have done more as wasn't feeling that breathless.

Anyway, think I got my mojo back but still doing w4 for the rest of this week, can't hurt to repeat it.

Back to work!

Glad to hear you've got your running mojo back, Itcould. I should probably confess that I haven't run for 25 minutes non-stop for months and months (am up to 8 mins non-stop at the moment), so it's still a fairly distant goal! I'm not even sure I could manage under 30 minutes any more.

ILike I always find that I have better runs if I'm feeling frustrated or have something on my mind - it's like my mind is somewhere else so doesn't pay as much attention as usual to my body or how exhausted it's feeling.

jelli we must have cross-posted so I missed your excellent news on the dress-size front. Well done!

I took the new shoes out for a spin this morning. They rubbed a bit when I walked, but were OK when I ran . I was tired and had sore calves sore from Saturday's run and yesterday's long walk, but I'm glad I dragged myself out. I also wore the skirt over my old running tights which are too thin and holey to wear in polite company because my shorts are in the wash.

Well done for dragging yourself out Itcould - great start to the week.

I've finally managed three runs i week 3, although it's taken me the best part of a fortnight (a combination of a weird virus thing which meant I slept for pretty much 36 hours straight and the holidays), but I really liked week 3 - not too hard going. Week 4 is a bit of a step up mind .

Can't say I've noticed any change in either weight or shape so far , but I have some stamina now, so any improvement is a good thing.

Hi All,

Have managed to get back on the bike this week and have managed to do W5R1... Have also discovered I've lost 4 lbs over the last week and a half, probably not the best way to go about it though!

Shin splints seem to be receding; I'm still doing the exercises and being quite careful on technique - getting a touch of soreness occasonally between runs, but the dull ache during the runs has pretty much gone. So it looks like some combination of the exercises, C25K, gait analysis and stability shoes seem to be working.

IShall I was daunted by week 4 on paper, the first day was easier than I expected it to be right up until the end of the last run where I started to feel it was a genuine step up - by the end of the week I was pretty happy with the 800m runs (or whatever the time equiv. is) and looking forward to the following week.

The one that's 'worrying' me now is the jump from W5R2 to W5R3 (which has no walking at all!!) and due to the way I've had to move the run days around I might have DS (who is 3) with me too!

Neil, by the time you get to the "long" run - 20 minutes or whatever it is, it's a case of mind over matter. Just tell yourself you are going to do it (though I can see it might not be that easy with a three-year-old in tow . I did see a few Dads running and pushing their littlies in buggies in the park at the weekend - will DS let you do that? Or will you be attempting the run at toddler pace?

I've just been looking at the rest of the Bupa plan and, apart from a couple of the Sunday runs which are "run one mile, walk/run one mile", none of them are longer than 15 mins until the very last two-mile run. I'll do W6R3 tomorrow as planned, which is "run one mile, walk/run one mile" (I'm planning on running for 1.75 miles as I ran for 1.5 miles last time) and then I think I'll switch back to the NHS plan - the timings at least. I'm getting a bit fed up with just getting into my stride and then being told to stop and walk for two minutes.

The other problem (for me) with the Bupa plan is that it's more time-consuming - the actual amount of running you do is slightly more, at least towards the end of the plan, and it's also broken up with more walking, so I find I'm out for about 50 minutes at the moment. By the time I get to Wk 9, I'll be up to three 15-minute runs interspersed with 1-3 mins of walking, so with the warm-up and cool-down walks I'd be out for around an hour altogether and I just find it too long.

Neil Like Shredded says, the jump to 20 minutes of running is really mind over matter more than anything - you should have already run for 20 minutes by this stage IIRC, just not all in one go. It's all worth it for the feeling of achievement you have afterwards.

Thanks Neither and Linzer I think I'm just slightly apprehensive at this point; on the bike I can just get 'into the zone' and go (have done 4-5 hour rides in the past) - I'm hoping I can do the same for a 20 min run!

As for DS; I have taken him along once before - I'm using a gated running track at the moment so he played in the middle with a football and occasionally ran over to have his nose blown . He might go for the pushchair if he's feeling lazy, but he's getting quite big for it and its seen far better days; its currently held together by bits of wire - not sure a 3.2km run would do it much good!

You'll be OK Neil, DS permitting. I was worried about W5R3 but it was fine when it came to it and a real feeling of achievement, I remember proudly posting on FB about it.

I'm off running this week (just as well with the weather) - my back is playing up a lot again (too much gardening on Sunday). Concentrating on stretching and Pilates instead.

Linzer - I know what you mean about the time. I've been doing a new 5k circuit near my house but it is very hilly and through the woods, by the time I have done that plus a few minutes warm up and down it is 50 mins+ out of the house and it gets hard finding time. It's a really nice route though.

Neils my fear of a 20 min run is exactly what is making me repeat w4, that and the fact I still need that brief 10 sec pause during my first 3 min run :

I refuse to let it beat me though! I'm sure it is mind over matter so go for it!

Anyway, was out again today in the early hours and now sat in work feeling pleased with myself.

Bought nail varnish too due to an offer do got some Maybelline ones in 'extreme blackcurrant' and 'khaki green' as I liked it.

Does that make me a fully paid up member of the club now?

Bath tonight followed by a glass of vino and paint my toenails in front of The Apprentice.

Icould definitely! Extreme blackcurrant sounds very enticing.

w4r1 done in the wind and rain [dedicated]. It wasn't as bad as I thought it might have been, but my legs are feeling it a bit now. Nearly half way there!

Hi can I join?

I did my 1st run today, run for 60 seconds walk for 90seconds, I did it on the tread mill as tried to run in the park once with dd on the scooter and it was a disaster!

Well today went really well but I didn't stretch and now my legs are killing! I normally hate running but had a podcast and date I say I think I enjoyed it very u usual for me!

But as I have a bad back I feel that it made my back worse, I feel really good that I did it tho!

Welcome notsure - sounds like a positive start; although I highly recommend stretching . I think the biggest thing that surprised me when I started was how close I came to enjoying it!

Ishall Well done on braving the rain! Its never really bothered me that much on the bike, but I wasn't looking forward to it doing W5R2 on Wednesday - although I was most worried about getting my shiny new running shoes dirty .

But... Did W5R3 this morning (with DS in tow - bribed him with a visit to the 'big slide') and have paid for my entry into the Wilmslow triathlon (and posted on FB so no backing out now!)

Some good running here - I feel inspired to carry on. But not tonight as it's chucking it down and I can't bear the thought of being wet and cold right now.

W4, R1 done. Dh away til Sunday so unless I can persuade the teenager over the road to come and babysit for an hour no more for me til he's back. It was not as bad as I thought, but I am so terrified of next week I might bw on W4 for a while.

Am loving Laura though. So much better than Rawbert. Music is pants though.

Keep on running everyone (unless it's raining, in which case wine and crisps better). have a good weekend.

Yay Neil! There's no going back now!

Welcome notsure!

Well done Ishall and Itcouldbe.

I am trying to gear myself to go out - I went on Monday and Weds mornings, and have finished work early enough today to go - but it's looking a bit cold and wet outside. If I post I'll go...

...maybe

I went!

Well done, Shredded - I find posting on here first always motivates me to go out.

sybil I miss Laura but I'm not sure I could face her music another time - the Runkeeper app woman has an annoying voice, although at least she doesn't say much.

Neil When's the triathlon? You've reminded me that I still need to pay to enter the town run - and for the DDs too, as they've decided that they want to do the children's race.

Welcome notsure. I find that my legs ache if I haven't run for a while even if I stretch, but stretching is always good even if I sometimes forget to do it.

Well done on your runs IShall and itcouldbe.

Hope your back is better now, WhoKnows. I'd love to run through the woods - it's very good for you, according to the doctor I saw about my knee, as your feet/legs have to keep adapting to different types of surface - but I'd need to drive there and it seems like too much time and effort, so I know I'd put off going out.

W6R3 done - I ran for 17 minutes altogether without any problems, so am not sure I can face going back to the Bupa plan's 12 minute runs. I think I'm going to switch back to the NHS plan for the last three weeks, although I won't be going out again until Monday. No time this weekend, as we have visitors arriving later today - an old school friend and her family - and I want to go to the hairdresser's beforehand; I'll have to be there at 8 am if I don't want to wait for hours. Tomorrow is going to be even more busy, as it's DD2's first communion so we have a few more people coming (ILs plus DD2's godmother).

well my legs have now recovered now and I could fancy running again.

does anyone run with dc's on there bike or scooter? i tired running with dd on scooter but she is only 4 and it was terrible, also i feel stupid running outside and I think i prefer running in the gym

Well done Linzer, sounds like you are making good progress. Also sounds like a busy weekend coming up - have fun and enjoy having your friend to stay. And I hope DD2's first communion goes well.

notsure - my DCs are too old to run with me thank goodness. Teenager DS1 and I did a 10K "together" recently, but he shot off at the start and finished a good 15 mins before me. Pre-teen DS2 is just constantly embarrassed about everything I say/do/wear . But don't feel stupid running outside, everyone has to start somewhere and some of us on this thread only used to run under cover of darkness.